Microbiologists lauded for services during pandemic

Health experts lauded the services of microbiologists working at Covid-19 testing facilities and hospitals on Friday, stating that had it not been for them, the pandemic death toll would have been significantly higher.

They must be praised for their courage and dedication, as they have been working day and night during the pandemic and handling millions of Covid-19 samples, helping health authorities and physicians in dealing with global infectious diseases effectively, the experts said during an online webinar organised by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

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Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre executive director Dr Seemin Jamali, who was the chief guest at the event, said, "Without the support of microbiologists, who put their own lives at risk while testing and analysing millions of infected samples, this pandemic could have caused many more deaths and resulted in disastrous consequences for Pakistan."

Dr Jamali also shed light on the pros and cons of using different diagnostic tools for the detection of evere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Dr Saeed Khan, ASM ambassador in Pakistan, spoke about available tests for Covid-19 detection, the tests' interpretation and misunderstandings regarding the screening process.